Wrench



March 1S, 1941. M. N. KlNcAlD WRENCH Filed Dec. 17, 1958 "im ,Ill

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E ,4 M /W Y ww fw/Mi 7 wm//M M Patented Mar. 18, 1.941

UNITED gSTATES PATENT. OFFICE WRENCH Marshall N. Kincaid, West Hartford, Conn., as-

signcr to The Billings & Spencer Company, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,525

6 Claims.

proved cooperating friction members of an imy proved compact and long wearing construction mounted on said body member and cooperating therewith and with one anotherin an improved manner, and also having improved reversing means herein including improved cooperating abutment and spring means on said body member and one of the friction elements respectively. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may `assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrench embodying this form of my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a detailed sidev elevation of the working portion of the wrench shown in Figure 1, the handle being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View `on line 3'-3 of 'Figure l;

Fig. 4 is a plan viewv of the construction shown in Figure 1, with the parts in vreversed relation, the handle here being broken 01T to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 5 is a detail exploded view of the parts of the wrench, certain of the same being shown spaced above their operative position to facilitate illustration, and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of this form of reversing means.

In this construction, it will be noted that I have shown a wrench comprising cooperating friction members, generally indicated at I and 2, of which the member I herein carries a usual depending polygonal turning portion 3 adapted to be received in any suitable socket, while the portion 2 is provided with a handle 4 adapted to swing the same about a pivot 5 on a frame member or body element 6 in which both the-elements I and 2 are carried; these elements I, 2

and 6 herein being of an improved construction and having improved reversing mechanism associated therewith, all as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring more particularly to the member I, 5

it will be noted that thesame is provided with upper and low annular flanges 'I and 8 which close the opposite ends of a round aperture 9 through the member 6, and also preferably have their outer surfaces ush with the top and bot- 10 to-m surfaces of that member. Further, it will be observed that an annular friction surface I0 of reduced diameter is provided on this member I between the anges I and 8, and that the polygonal turning portion 3 which is rotatable with 15 this member I, projects axially from the outer face of the flange 8. It will also be observed that the frame member 6 is provided with flat laterally projecting parallel top and bottom portions II and I2 also flush withy the outer faces of the ilanges 'I and 8 and herein` having side edges converging toward the outer end of these portions. As shown, a transverseslot I3 is also provided between these portions II and I2', while a communicating aperture I4 opens into the aperture 9 and provides access to the 'friction surface I0 on the member I. Further, it will be noted that the friction member 2 is mounted in the slot I3 and-has its inner end I5 extended through this aperture I 4 into contact with the friction portion I0 ori the member I between the anges 'I and 8 thereon. Note further that this inner end I5 is arcuate and symmetrical in such manner as in ydifferent angular relations of the members 2 and E to enablethe opposite end portions I5a and I5b of this portion I5 selectively to project through the aperture I4 at opposite sides of the center thereof and engage the surface III with a camming action and thereby make reverse operation possible. Moreover, it 'will be observed that herein this member 2 is pivoted on the portions Il and I2 on a screw5 which extends through a registering' hole I6 in the member 2 and is threaded, as at I'I', in the portion I2 of the member 6, while having' a beveled head 'I8 seated inthe portion II in such manner as also to beiiush with the top thereof. As a result of this construction, it will be evident that the member 2 will be moved with'its handle 4 about its pivot 5 in reverse directions to rrotate the member I in the desired direction, the members 6 and 2 also moving together about the axis of the member I through the camming action established'between the surfaces lI5 and I0 on the members I and 2.

Herein, it will also be observed that improved reversing means are provided. These, as shown, include a prong, or projection, I9 on the free end of the portion II on the frame member 6. As shown, this projection is symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the center line of the latter member and also provided with straight side surfaces 20. Further, it will be observed that the handle 4 carries a plate spring member, or nger, ZI extending longitudinally thereof andV herein suitably fixed to the handle at its remote end, as at 22, and provided intermediate its ends with an upwardly curved portion 23 and with an adjacentY portion to be depressed so that the edges 26 ofV the extremity will be disposed'below the projection I3, while the walls of the groove provide abutments preventing swinging of the spring in all positions thereof. rIlius, whenever the raised `portion 23 is pressed down by the operator, end

portion 25 will free the projection I3, while when the portion 23 is released, the resiliency of the spring 2| will return the portion 25 to its normal or projection engaging position. Further, it will be apparent that the surfaces 2li provided on the projection vI3 are thus adapted to abut opposite edge portions 26 on the spring 2I in the different angular relation of the members 2 and 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 4. If desired, a shallow indentation may be provided in the surfaces 2li to receive these edges 26.

In the operation of my improved construction, it will be evident that with the parts in the position shown in Figure l, when the handle 4 is pulled down, the surfaces I5 and I0 engaging as indicated, will cause rotation of the member I and socket engaging member 3; the handle thereafter being swung reversely after the manner of a ratchet wrench, with the end portion Ia` of friction surface l5 alternately moving back over the surface IE! and gripping the latter to effect intermittent rotation of the members I and 3 in a screwing in or tightening direction. Further,

when the portion 23 of the spring 2| is depressed by the operators thumb, it will also be noted that the projection I9 will be released, so that the parts may be turned into the position shown in Figure 4 in which the end portion I5?) engages surface I0. Also, following release of the spring, one of the edges 26 thereon will rise automatically in the path of the adjacent face 2i) on the projection I9 in such manner as to hold the parts 2 and 6 in this new angular relation. With the parts in this position, it will also be understood that when the handle 4 is operated successively reversely, a releasing rotation of the work engaging member 3 will result.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be observed that it is made possible for the direction of operation to be reversed readily and quickly as desired. It will also be evident that the action of the spring 2I as it rises up alongside the surfaces 2li on the projection I3 is such as automatically to prevent relative lateral movement between the elements 2 and 6. It will further be observed that the member 2 continues effectively to position the member I in all positions of the wrench without requiring any further positioning means therefor, the edge of the curved frictional surface I5 of the member 2' always being disposed between the flanges 'I and 8 on the member I, in such manner as to maintain the latter member in operative position in the frame member 6. Moreover, it will be evident that, whenever the screw 5 is removed, the member 2 and its connected handle may be readily withdrawn, in such manner as then to permit `the member I to drop down through the aperture 8 and be readily separated from the frame member 6. Further, it will be observed' that, while the above advantages are obtained, the member 6 is maintained of a simple and compact construction, while the reversing spring means is free from str-ain at all times during operation of the wrench and also so disposed below the top o f the Amember '6 as to protect the spring against damage or accidental operation. It will be observed that to provide my improved construction, only a small number of simple and inexpensive parts are required, all of which may be separately made and readily assembled to produce an exceedingly simple construction of rugged character, while at thesame time enabling any of the parts which become worn to be readily and quickly replaced whendesired. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled. in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will beunderstood that the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modiiied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the "scope of the appended claims. f

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l.. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members mounted thereon and having means operative upon reversely swinging one cooperating member to grip and release the other member, and means for positioning said body and swingable camming member in different angular relations. to reverse the direction of said gripping and releasing movements including a longitudinally extending prong on said body member and adjustable detentV means on said swinging member comprising a cooperating resilient finger fixed against lateral swinging movement relative to said member and swingable therewith into positions wherein opposite sides of said finger are selectively engageable with opposite sides of said prong in different angularv relations, said swinging camming member having a handle and said finger comprising a plate spring carried thereon and disposed longitudinally thereof and movable downwardly toward said handle out of the lateral planes including said prong during movement of said swingable camming member and body member into diiferent angular positions.4 v Y 2. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members mounted thereon and having means operative upon reversely swinging one cooperating member to grip and releasethe other member, and mechanism for positioning said body and swingable camming member in different angular relations to reverse the direction of said gripping and releasing movements including a longitudinally extending prong on said body member and a cooperating oppositely extending resilient iinger fixed against lateral swinging movement relative to said swingable camming member and having a free end projecting beyond the end of said prong'andswingable with said camming member in lateral planes including said prong, said nger having angularly related faces selectively engaging opposite sides of said prong in different angular positions of the parts and the free end of said iinger being movable against its resilience in a direction trans- Verse to said lateral planes and out of said planes during relative movement of said swinging carnming member and body between said different angular positions.

3. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members mounted thereon and having means operative upon reversely swinging one cooperating member to grip and release the other member, and means for positioning said body and swingable camming member in diiierent angular relations to reverse the direction of said gripping and releasingmovements including a longitudinally extended projection on said body member and adjustable detent means on said swinging member engaging opposite sides of said projection in different angular relations, said swinging camming member having a longitudinally grooved handle and said detent means including a longitudinally disposed plate spring 'depressible intothe groove therein to clear said projection and abutting against the opposite side walls of said groove when engaging said projection.

4. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members mounted thereon and having means operative upon reversely swinging one cooperating member to grip and release the other member, and means for positioning said body and swingable camming member in different angular relations to reverse the direction of said gripping and releasing movements including a longitudinally extended prong centrally disposed on said body member and adjustable detent means on said swinging member including a nger centrally disposed thereon and having a portion engaging opposite sides of said prong in different angular relations, said finger being rigidly connected to and fixed against lateral swinging movement relative to said swinging member and said portion being movable out of the plane of said portion to permit swinging of said swinging camming member.

5. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members mounted thereon and having means operative upon reversely swinging one cooperating member to grip and release the other member, and means for positioning said body and swingable camming member in different angular relations to reverse the direction of said gripping and releasing movements including a longitudinally extended prong on said body member and longitudinally disposed adjustable detent meansl on said swinging member comprising a cooperating ringer centrally disposed thereon having one end rigidly i'lxed thereto, said finger being iixed against lateral swinging movement relative to said swinging member and having its free end disposable bodily on opposite sides of said prong.

6. In a wrench, a body member, cooperating camming members, one rotatably mounted on said body member and the other pivoted thereon and disposable in different angular relations thereto, said pivoted member having a longitudinally grooved handle, an annular cam face on said rotatable camming member, and a cooperating arcuate cam face on said pivoted member having means on opposite sides of a median line o 

